Top 10 pieces of Italian Opera

"Non più andrai farfallone amoroso" from the opera "Le Nozze di Figaro" (1786) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

It is one of the most famous arias of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, sung at the end of the first act.

"Largo al Factotum" from the opera "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" (1813) by Gioacchino Rossini.

Largo al factotum is Figaro’s cavatina sung in the first act of The Barber of Seville composed by Gioachino Rossini. This is one of the most important arias of opera repertoire and it helps to put on the scene Figaro’s character.

"Casta Diva" from the opera "Norma" (1831) by Vincenzo Bellini. Most famous singer of this role: Maria Callas.

The aria is sung by Norma, the main protagonist, a Gallic minister who asks the moon for a blessing because Gallics want to rise up against the Roman domination. But Norma falls in love with a roman soldier and she does not want to put him in danger.

"Una furtiva lacrima" from the opera "Elisir d'amore" (1832) by Gaetano Donizetti. Most famous singers of this aria: Luciano Pavarotti or Enrico Caruso.

Nemorino, the male protagonist of L’Elisir d’amore, sings this aria soon after he has noticed that a teardrop had sprung from Adina’s eye, the woman he loves. Because of this, he realises that she loves him too.

"Va' pensiero" from the opera "Nabucco" (1841) by Giuseppe Verdi.

“Va’, pensiero” is an aria sung by the choir in Nabucco, one of the most famous opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi. Jewish slaves intone this piece wishing for a liberation from the Babylonian captivity.

"La donna è mobile" from the opera "Rigoletto" (1851) by Giuseppe Verdi. Most famous singer of this role: Luciano Pavarotti.

“La donna è mobile” is an aria of Rigoletto, sung by the Duke of Mantua. The Duke sings about women, who are so hard to understand and always frivolous. Women are seen as feathers at the mercy of wind, because they always change their mind and mood.

"Libiamo ne' lieti calici" from the opera "La Traviata" (1856) by Giuseppe Verdi.

“Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” is an episode of the second scene of first act. The two main protagonists, Violetta and Alfredo, together with the choir, sing it during a party in which all people toast life, love and carpe diem.

"Vesti la giubba", also known as "Ridi, Pagliaccio", from the opera "Pagliacci" (1892) by Ruggero Leoncavallo. Most famous singer of this role: Placido Domingo.

“Vesti la giubba”, better known as “Ridi, Pagliaccio”, is an aria from Pagliacci composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo. It is sung by Canio, one of the main protagonists, who is going to put on the stage his comedy in which he plays a clown.

"O mio babbino caro", from the opera "Gianni Schicchi" (1918) by Giacomo Puccini.

“O mio babbino caro” is an aria sung by Lauretta, the daughter of Gianni Schicchi. She asks her father for help because she is in love with Rinuccio. Unfortunately, Rinuccio belongs to Donati’s family, bitter enemy of Gianni Schicchi.

"Nessun Dorma", from the opera "Turandot" (1926) by Giacomo Puccini. Most famous singer of this role: Luciano Pavarotti.

“Nessun Dorma” is a famous aria from Turandot composed by Giacomo Puccini. The main character Calaf intones this aria to declare his love for Turandot, the Ice Princess who does not love anyone.